The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Luke W. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Interview with John Lazet
John Lazet has spent three decades working in the Michigan Senate. He is chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Alan Cropsey and helps manage all the legislation that comes to a vote on the Senate floor. Mr. Lazet also worked for Cropsey's father, Harmon Cropsey, when he served in the Michigan Senate.
Of all the important issues in state government, Sen. Cropsey and Mr. Lazet focus a lot of their time and effort on the corrections budget and management of Michigan's prisons.
He grew up near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before his legislative days, Mr. Lazet graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in chemistry and then became a school teacher for eight years in the greater Detroit area.
What brought you to the state of Michigan?
The Hand of God sent me to Michigan State University. I thought I was headed to Vietnam but my parents didn't want me to go; I had a choice. I went to MSU. Before class started I went and I talked with my older brother who was serving in the military and he shared Christ with me. I listened to him but I didn't hear what he was saying. I got to MSU and someone on my floor told me about Jesus, and used the same bridge analogy my brother did. I ended up coming to Christ.
How did you begin a career in state government?
I was teaching in a Detroit area school when I met my future wife Laura. We got married and I was faced with a choice of where to live. She was working in Sen. Ed Fredrick's office and living in Lansing. I had been working in the school for eight years and it was time for a change. I got involved with Rep. Harmon Cropsey's run for the Michigan Senate. Cropsey was the definite underdog. We worked hard and I was involved with the churches. The front runner in the race lost his biggest supporter when it came out that he did not have a pro-life position. Harmon Cropsey won the election.
What kind of issues and challenges did you face as a member of the Harmon Cropsey team?
Our first big issue involved the homeschool community. At the time, homeschooling was equivalent to negligence. The schools used to rank education based upon process so we stood with small schools and said we'll accept a good product.
Other than both Cropseys, who else have you worked for during your career?
I left Harmon's office and moved over to Sen. Fredricks, who ran for Congress and lost. I then went to work with Bill Van Regenmorter. His name was so long we had to make huge yard signs. He wrote the Michigan Crime Victim's Rights Act which has become a role model for many other states. It was founded on dignity, respect, and fairness for victims.
What were the rewards of working for someone like Sen. Van Regenmorter?
Bill also taught me a lot about the process of responding to local stakeholders. Many times you can find agreement with people. You need to look for the Venn diagrams on issues.
Van Regenmorter was also a leader in "truth in sentencing" legislation. One of his biggest allies was Linda Clark, who was instrumental in Michigan's truth-in-sentencing movement after her husband was killed in a Genesee County convenience store robbery in 1993.
The widow was charged $16,000 for her husband's brief time in the hospital in the few hours before he died of his wounds. Sen. Van Regenmorter and victims advocates quietly worked behind the scenes to have these costs drastically reduced. Linda has been grateful ever since and even in 2010 she continues to testify on "truth in sentencing" rules.
After Bill was term limited in the Senate and went back to the House, I joined Alan Cropsey, who was running for the state Senate. He hired me in 2003.
What role does faith play for you and Sen. Cropsey, in your profession?
Sen. Cropsey always asks the question of how Jesus would do something. You can't understand anything in scripture that you THINK you already know. If a pastor stands up and simply says today's sermon is about David and Goliath, no one will listen. So you start asking questions like "How would Jesus tackle a current issue - like defeating the DRIC (between Detroit and Canada) bridge?"
Everything we do is to correspond with the nature, character, and will of God. It is not enough to use Jesus' tactics. There also needs to be the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
What training is helpful in preparing for your job?
Studying Scripture. Jesus knew that whoever controls the definitions controls the debate and ultimately the answers. We need to remember the same thing.
